Madam Pince opened the doors to the hospital wing, and Hermione rushed in alongside Harry and Ginny. Harry had already told Ginny what happened, but Hermione had just appeared after overhearing Dean telling Seamus where Ginny had gone.

"I've administered the potions to help Mr. Weasley recover, but it will be several days before he is feeling well again," Madam Pomfrey explained.

"So he'll be alright then?" Hermione said worriedly.

"Yes, Ms. Granger, he will be fine. He's sleeping now." Madam Pince left for her office as Professor McGonagall asked Harry to repeat the story of how Ron had been poisoned.

Hermione listened raptly to Harry's story, and shuddered at the thought at what could have happened if Harry had not thought so quickly. After filling her in, Professor McGonagall left the three students to sit by Ron.

"First the necklace, now the mead. This isn't good, Harry. Katie and Ron are both near misses, and whoever is doing this clearly doesn't care who gets injured along the way," Hermione whispered to Harry.

"I'm telling you, I know who it is, but you and Ron won't listen," Harry insisted.

"Because it's ridiculous! There's no way it could be him, and if Ron were awake he'd tell you so as well," Hermione retorted as Ginny quietly listened to their banter, knowing enough to not get involved.

"Er-my-nee," Ron muttered in his sleep.

"Did he just-" Ginny looked at Hermione.

"No, I'm sure it's nothing!" Hermione said quickly. Why would it be anything? They hadn't spoken in almost four months. Her heart secretly fluttered despite her brain trying to be realistic.

Harry and Ginny both looked at her before changing the conversation. They talked quietly for a while, trying to find things to say to pass the time, hoping Ron would wake up. They were interrupted by an overly distraught Lavender, who went on about how she should have known first because 'she was his girlfriend,' to which Ginny replied snarkily that 'actually, family comes first, so you can sod off,' so then Lavender rounded on Hermione instead.

Madam Pince came bounding out of her office at the commotion and promptly kicked Lavender out. She turned back to Harry, Hermione and Ginny, "I would also suggest that you three go down to the Great Hall for lunch. You shouldn't miss a meal while waiting. He'll be here when you get back."

As she walked away, Harry and Ginny made to get up, but Hermione didn't move. "I'll stay. I had breakfast this morning. You two didn't."

"Hermione-" Harry started.

"No, really, it's fine. Go." Hermione reassured him.

"We'll bring you back something," Ginny said.

Hermione smiled in thanks as Harry and Ginny made their way to the exit.

"Making up for lost time?" Ginny whispered into Harry's ear when they were out of earshot.

Harry chuckled. "It's a shame it always takes one of them almost dying to make up," he shook his head as they walked down the corridor.

Hermione looked down at Ron, who still hadn't moved at all, save for his steady breathing. Hermione reached up tentatively and took one of his hands in her own.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered to him. "For the canaries, for icing you out...I shouldn't have done that. I was just so upset. I thought you'd agreed to come with me to the party, but then you shut me out, and I'm not going to lie, Ron, you hurt me. And I should have told you then, but then Lavender was snogging you and you'd made your choice. It was stupid of me to think we couldn't be friends because you had a girlfriend, but I couldn't be around you either. It hurt too much."

A tear slipped away from her eye. If only it was this easy to say things to him when he was awake. "I thought I'd lost you when I heard Dean and Seamus talking. I promise I'll be a better friend. Just- don't leave me, okay?" She felt Ron move suddenly and jumped, pulling her hand away as his eyes opened slightly.

"Hermione?" he said slowly, groaning as he tried to turn to look at her.

"Ron, you're awake!"

"What happened?" he asked, squinting at the brightness of the hospital wing.

"Well, Harry said you ate one of Romilda's cauldron cakes that was spiked with love potion. He took you to Professor Slughorn who gave you an antidote, and then gave you a pick me up of mead which happened to be poisoned."

"Bloody hell."

"You almost died, Ron. If Harry hadn't thought of the bezoar, you'd- you'd-"

" 'S fine, Hermione, 'm alright see?" he tried to sit up but winced.

Hermione threw her arms around him then and said, "I'm sorry...for everything."

"M- me too," he said as he awkwardly closed his arms around her. When she pulled away, Ron asked, "Hermione, were you talking before I woke up? I thought I heard someone say 'don't leave me', but you're the only one here and…er..."

"Oh, I, uh, well yes, I did say that." Hermione looked anywhere but Ron before saying, "You know, because I wouldn't be able to handle Harry on my own," she laughed awkwardly at the attempted save.

"Oh, right… Well, if it's all the same, I don't plan on it. Y'know, leaving you," he said, grinning at her.

"Good," she said, returning his smile.

"It's good to have you back, by the way.." he said quietly.

"Well...someone may not think so," Hermione said through a small smile.

Ron looked at her confusedly. "What? Why wouldn't Harry be happy about it?"

Hermione had to stop herself from letting out an unlady-like snort at his comment, as she noticed him grinning lopsidedly. "Only kidding. She can deal or she can ditch me."

"Ron!" Hermione couldn't believe he'd just said that, but his words had set the butterflies running rampant in her stomach now.

Despite trying to get over him for months now, she was beginning to accept that it was a battle she'd never win. So, Hermione chose to laugh and enjoy being his best friend again. Because being friends was far better than being nothing at all, that was for sure.